Whether it’s helping bring down Jose Mourinho or pushing back against their club owner, fans have a long history of using their passion for football to fight for change. These stories remind us that fan activism is more than a passing fad, and that it’s still a powerful tool in the fight for social justice.
West Ham supporters are taking to the streets in protest against their club’s board. Before their game against Crystal Palace, the Hammers’ home stadium was lined with flags and banners urging chairman David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karren Brady to resign. Messages included “just resign” and “selling a dream, living a nightmare.”
In Germany, Borussia Dortmund’s fans boycotted the first 20 minutes of their match with Stuttgart to highlight ticket prices that have skyrocketed. The Bundesliga is a top league, but tickets to Tuesday’s game, which was in the quarter-finals of the German Cup, cost up to EUR70.
A group of LA Galaxy fans walked out of their team’s game with Vancouver in protest against the club’s silence on immigration raids in Southern California. Leslie Jimenez, a leader of the Angel City Brigade and Los Angeles Riot Squad, says that there isn’t a day that goes by when she doesn’t think about the raids.
The news media frequently portrays underrepresented groups negatively, including people involved in protests. By focusing on the personal characteristics of those who take part in protests, it is possible to promote positive attitudes toward them.